Meet Suity Das -- lone female idol sculptor from Gopalganj.  She has broken the gender barrier by embracing a predominantly male profession -- sculpting idols for the Hindu community.

It is the busiest time for Suity as Durga puja, the largest celebration of the Hindus, starts this week.

On their latest assignment, Suity and his father, Ramesh Das from Noiyar Bari village under Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj district, were seen sculpting an idol last week on Bagura Road in Barisal city.

Traditionally, the idols for community puja mandaps (temporary stages for worship) are made by male sculptors. Suity's love for the work coupled with her courage supported by her family have paved the way for a new era, when female sculptors may take on idol making as their profession of choice.

"Breaking this traditional barrier wasn't easy. A lot of times I've heard harsh comments [for making idols], but that couldn't drag me down," said Suity.

"I've been sincere with my jobs all along and I've earned a reputation for making quality idols," she said, adding that she made 21 Durga idols for various mandaps in Gopalganj, Kotalipara, Faridpur and Barisal.

Suity's father Ramesh said his daughter showed keen interest in sculpting idols from a tender age, when she used to attempt making small Durga idols at home.   

She spent her childhood in India's Delhi, from where she learned different techniques of sculpting  idols.

She has been sculpting idols professionally since 2001, when she was 15 years old, said Suity, who is now 29 years of age.

Narayan Chandra Dey Naru, president of Barisal City Puja Udjapon Parishad, said, "It's a good sign that traditional barriers are being broken. This trend will be beneficial to the community."

Puja organisers, however, tend to pay less to Suity for her work, compared to a similar job done by a male sculptor, observed Suity. "I can make any idol of any size. When it comes to sculpting, gender is irrelevant. Women can do any work."

So far this year Suity sculpted three idols of Durga in Barisal city where at least 35 Durga idols are likely to be made.